Improvement in car-couplings



H. K. FORBIS.

Gar-Couplings. N0. 146,814. P atented lan.27.1874.

monuzvs.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARBERT K. FORBIS, OF DANVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,814, dated January27, 1374; application filed December 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARBERT K. Foams, of Danville, in the county ofBoyle and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved CombinedCar Coupler and Bumper, of which the following is a specification:

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in theclaim.

Figure l is a plan of the butter and coupler inverted, with a partsectioned. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line :0 w ofFig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

A represents the draw-bars, which hook together side by side, as at B.They are fitted at the rear end in a hanger, C, so as to slide a little,and secured,by a key, D,-with a strong bufiferspring, E. This hanger issuspended from a strong plate extending a little beyond the hanger, andpivoted to the car-bottom at 1*, to swing laterally, and allow thedraw-head the necessary movements sidewise for coupling and uncoupling,and to accommodate the side motions of the cars. At the front end ofthis plate it has a stud, G, projecting down each side of the draw-bar,to insure the alignment of the one with the other, so that the drawbarwill not cramp in thehanger when bumping. H is the cap on the draw-barfor sliding along in front of the hooked end of the drawbar of the othercar, and lock the hooks together, said cap being arranged to be forcedback by the end of the draw-bar when coupling, and forward after thehooks have engaged, by a spring, I. k

In this example I have arranged the cap with a bend'at J, and fitted iton an inclined rest, K, so as to slide obliquely against the hook, andbe constantly pressed. thereon to insure the hooks against workingapart, and to prevent the. rattling to which they are subject when notconstantly pressed together. This arrangement is also to allow ofwidening the draw-bars at the bottom of the notch for the hook, andarranging the bottom to receive the end thrust of the other draw-bar, asat L,

which, together with the arrangement of the draw-bar in a hanger pivotedto the car, and

with a suitable butter-spring, thus render the coupling a practicalbufl'er.

For uncoupling, the caps are drawn back by a cord or chain, M, which maybe conducted over suitable guide-rollers to a lever or other means ofoperating it upon the platform.

Spiral springs may be used, instead of the india-rubber springs hereshown, in connection with the butters.

Having thus described m y invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The locking-caps H, arranged to slide obliquclyagainst the coupling-hooks, and press them together, substantially asspecified.

HARBERT K. FORBIS.

\Vitnesses: a

J. W. Pnoo'ron, J. M. WALLACE.

